They really are marvelous little creatures, Fans. But they are sometimes rather like savages. Our Hero, anyway (but give Clara some time).
Joe looks ever so Obi-Wan Kenobi (if a brighter, less tattered one) in his hooded towel each night he comes striding out of the bathroom. But we have perhaps, reported here previously, of Joe's penchant for yucking it up in the bathroom in advance of his bath--you know, the smallest room of the house with all the hard surfaces, at the hour when parental spirits are at their lowest ebb? The other night, things had really broken down, and so, when it came time for stories, Julie said she wanted to have a word with our young padawan.
Now, it may be overstating it to say that there was a meeting of the minds at this Pajama Summit, so let us just say that Julie presented her thoughts and would brook no arguments to the contrary. Julie's thoughts were, to begin, that she had overheard a lot of "silly behavior" in the bathroom. It was at this point that Joe, rather amusingly, broke in to correct her: "wild animal behavior." Ah yes. Julie stood most corrected. Let the record reflect that the behavior under discussion is "wild animal" behavior. She continued that she has overheard rather a lot of Joe acting like a wild animal, "a goon," if he will allow (he would--not yet having deduced where this was all going). Julie said that such behavior simply wasn't safe, and it was really hugely frustrating, and so, she was going to be listening, and if she heard what she deemed wild animal behavior in the bathroom in advance of bath, there would be no books.
It was at this point that things came together for Our Hero, and Our Hero did protest. Julie told him that she, too, would be rather disappointed should events take this turn, but that we simply could not be unsafe in the bathroom, and frustrating one's mother and father.
Now, Fans. You may be sitting there, across the ether, thinking, "Oh! Joe! Poor Joe!" Indeed. Here is where we will share with you that it was at this point that Julie asked Joe to apologize to the long-pre-bath-moments-suffering Ted, and Joe, turned into her leg, apparently beside himself. Oh no, Fans. No. He was laughing. Laughing. Oh he thought he was playing us like a finely tuned fiddle. And thus was promptly carried off to bed, where he wailed for all of about a minute (so crushed was his wild animal spirit).
Last night, we are pleased to report that the wild animal acted most tame. Tonight, was just a bit more touch and go. Julie heard a brief burst of consternation from the bathroom from Joe, but then all was quiet on the western front until Joe and Ted had decamped to the living room where Joe put on his pajamas. Some scuffle broke out such that Julie, arriving at the bottom of the stairs, found Joe clinging to Ted's leg, imploring him "not to tell Mommy." Julie had to turn away lest Our Hero see her laughing.
We will not leave you on tenterhooks. Books were read. Joe selected Today Is Monday and Frosty the Snowman. Our Hero does not know it, but he gave Julie her comeuppance as together with the book (and book length) version of If You're Happy and You Know It, Today Is Monday is her least favorite tome from the bambini's library. TIM is an Eric Carle book. Never heard of it? There's probably a reason. This, too, is a singing book. We have made up a tune. Music appears at the back of the book, but Julie, at least, has never been much of a sight reader. Julie doesn't mind the song. It's just that the lyrics are so wanting.* But listen to this! She sings the whole book tonight, and as she was closing it and turning to Frosty, Joe says--and we do not make this up, Fans--"No, you got to sing the song!" What?! Which is just what Julie said through a laugh so hard she was almost teary-eyed. Joe confirmed for her that she must conclude with an encore. She began, was stopped--and again, we do not make this up--and told to be louder. Ha!
Finally, we moved on to Frosty. Better book, better song. Sort of blew Our Hero's mind that there is a Frosty song.
*The final verse:
Today is Sunday
Sunday, ice cream
Saturday, chicken
Friday, fresh fish [clearly, a nod to observant Catholics everywhere; thanks Eric]
Thursday, roast beef
Wednesday, ZOOOP [soup]
Tuesday, spaghetti
Monday, string beans
All you hungry children
Come and eat it up!
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